Modular contact switch

Abstract

A modular contact switch adapted to be readily assembled from a plurality of contact modules is provided. Both active contact modules and passive contact modules comprise coupling features, including but not limited to, engagement tabs and mating surfaces, to enable a removable coupling of multiple active contact modules to form active contact assemblies and passive contact modules of a passive contact assembly. The active contact modules provide a spring-biased contact that responds to the position of passive contacts of the passive contact modules. As the active and passive contact modules come into abutment and urging engagement, an electrical connection is made between the corresponding contacts. The spring-bias of the active contacts ensures that the electrical contact is made regardless of variations in tolerances and position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A modular electrical contact switch, comprising: 
       an active contact assembly comprising a first end active contact module and a second end active contact module, the first and second end active contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the first and second end active contact modules having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the first end active contact module first side having a first coupling surface, the second end active contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second end coupling surfaces adapted for removable coupling therewith; and  
       a passive contact assembly comprising a first end passive contact module and a second end passive contact module, the first and second end passive contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the first and second end passive contact modules having a passive contact adjacent the front side, the first end passive contact module first side having a first coupling surface, the second end passive contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second end coupling surfaces adapted for removable coupling therewith,  
       wherein contact between each active contact and passive contact closes an electrical circuit.  
     
     
       2. The modular contact switch of  claim 1 , wherein the active contact assembly further comprises one or more center active contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center active contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center active contact module first side having a first coupling surface and the center active contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second coupling surfaces adapted for removable coupling to the first coupling surfaces, respectively, of the end modules; and 
       wherein the passive contact assembly further comprises one or more center passive contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center passive contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center passive contact module first side having a first coupling surface and the center passive contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second coupling surfaces adapted for removable coupling to the second and first coupling surfaces, respectively, of the end modules.  
     
     
       3. The modular contact switch of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end active contact modules are identical with first coupling surfaces adapted to couple thereto and wherein the first and second end passive contact modules are identical with first coupling surfaces adapted to couple thereto. 
     
     
       4. The modular contact switch of  claim 3 , wherein the first active contact module comprises a first side comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, and wherein the first passive contact module comprises a first side comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, wherein the first sides of two contact modules are adapted to be removably coupled. 
     
     
       5. The modular contact switch of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more center active contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center active contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center active contact module first side comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, the second side comprising a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the top side, and a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the bottom side, the first and second sides adapted to couple with both a second or first side of another center module, respectively, and an end module first side; and 
       further comprising one or more center passive contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center passive contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center passive contact module first side comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, the second side comprising a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the top side, and a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the bottom side, the first and second sides adapted to couple with both a second or first side of another center module, respectively, and an end module first side.  
     
     
       6. A modular electrical contact switch, comprising: 
       an active contact assembly comprising a first end active contact module and a second end active contact module, the first and second end active contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the first and second end active contact modules having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the first end active contact module first side having a first coupling surface, the second end active contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second end coupling surfaces comprise coupling features for removable coupling therebetween; and  
       a passive contact assembly comprising a first end passive contact module and a second end passive contact module, the first and second end passive contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the first and second end passive contact modules having a passive contact adjacent the front side, the first end passive contact module first side having a first coupling surface, the second end passive contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second end coupling surfaces comprise coupling features for removable coupling therebetween,  
       wherein contact between each active contact and passive contact closes an electrical circuit.  
     
     
       7. The modular contact switch of  claim 6 , wherein the active contact assembly further comprises one or more center active contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center active contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center active contact module first side having a first coupling surface and the center active contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second coupling surfaces having coupling features for removable coupling to the first coupling surfaces, respectively, of the end modules; and 
       wherein the passive contact assembly further comprises one or more center passive contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center passive contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center passive contact module first side having a first coupling surface and the center passive contact module second side having a second coupling surface, the first and second coupling surfaces having coupling features for removable coupling to the second and first coupling surfaces, respectively of the end modules.  
     
     
       8. The modular contact switch of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second end active contact modules are identical with first coupling surfaces having coupling features to couple thereto and wherein the first and second end passive contact modules are identical with first coupling surfaces having coupling features to couple thereto. 
     
     
       9. The modular contact switch of  claim 8 , wherein the first active contact module comprises a first side having coupling features comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, and wherein the first passive contact module comprises a first side having coupling features comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side. 
     
     
       10. The modular contact switch of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more center active contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center active contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center active contact module first side having coupling features comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, the second side having coupling features comprising a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the top side, and a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the bottom side; and 
       further comprising one or more center passive contact modules having a top side, a bottom side, a first side, a second side, a front side and a back side, the center passive contact module having a spring-biased contact extending from the front side, the center passive contact module first side having coupling features comprising a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the top side, and a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the bottom side, the second side having coupling features comprising a coupling notch between two complimentary coupling tabs adjacent the top side, and a coupling tab between two complimentary coupling notches adjacent the bottom side.